194 YEARBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



FOOD PLANTS FOR UPLAND GAME BIRDS. 



The distinction between the dietaries of the so-called frugivorous 

 and graminivorous birds is not so marked as would be inferred 

 from a strict interpretation of these terms. Particularly in the case 

 of the grouse and quail does a limited characterization of the food 

 habits fail to express the truth. Consequently in recommending 

 plants attractive to these birds many must be mentioned that are 

 included in the lists for fruit-eating birds. Grouse are fond of both 

 buds and leaves; hence some plants which have neither nutritious 

 fruit nor seeds are for them important food plants. 



While the establishment of preserves for land game birds is yet a 

 new movement in this country, it is certain to become of great im- 

 portance. Hence it is desirable to disseminate information as to the 

 food and covert plants that are favored by the grouse and quail. 

 Bobwhites frequently use covers of rose, alder, and blackberry bushes, 

 and thickly set barberry, bayberry, and dense banks of honeysuckle 

 are suitable. These plants also furnish food for the birds, but they 

 should be supplemented by others more exclusively adapted for this 

 purpose. Sumach, Japanese clover, buckwheat, sorghum, millet, 

 vetches, cowpeas, and any plants of the pea family producing small 

 seeds are valuable, and should be sown in large quantities. The seeds 

 of milk pea (Galactia), partridge pea (Ohamcechrista), hog peanut 

 (Falcata) , wild bean (Strophostyles] , and smartweeds (Polygonum) 

 are important natural foods of the eastern quail, but should be 

 encouraged only where they can not become weed pests. The western 

 quail are fond of the seeds of sumach, bur clover, alfilaria, lupines, 

 napa thistle, and turkey mullein plants; but where these plants are 

 liable to become nuisances the food plants recommended for the 

 eastern quail will serve. 



Coverts for grouse, as the sharptail, should abound in such plants 

 as rose, sumach, blueberry, bearberry, buffalo berry, dwarf birch, 

 and alder. The ruffed grouse thrives among scrub oak, bayberry, 

 rose, sumach, dwarf birch, alder, poplar, willow, and such fruit- 

 bearing plants as partridge berry, hawthorn, viburnum, wild grapes, 

 mountain ash, blueberry, blackberry, and cranberry. Cover of this 

 nature is suited to the heath hen also, and to the imported pheasants 

 and the Hungarian partridge, but in all cases it is well to supplement 

 the food supply furnished by these shrubs and trees by planting small 

 grains and legumes as recommended for quail. 



PLANTS USEFUL FOR PROTECTING CULTIVATED FRUITS. 



The practice of planting wild or inferior fruits for the purpose of 

 tolling birds away from valuable cultivated varieties is very old, but 

 it has never been tried as widely and systematically as seems desirable. 



